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Holland threw 8⅓ innings of two-hit ball and batterymate Mike Napoli supported him with a three-run homer as the Texas Rangers defeated the Cardinals 4-0 Sunday night to tie the World Series at two wins apiece.

Holland's masterpiece was the longest scoreless appearance by an AL starter in the World Series since the New York Yankees' Andy Pettitte tossed 8⅓ scoreless innings in Game 5 in 1996.

"I wanted to show I belong here," said Holland, who came in with a 5.27 postseason ERA. "I wanted to make a name for myself and at the same time to get momentum back on our side."

"Considering the circumstances, I'd say it's the best-pitched game in the organization's history," Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler said.

A night after becoming the fourth team to give up as many as 16 runs in a World Series game, the Rangers put their fate in the hands of a 25-year-old lefty who had been erratic and prone to losing his poise.

They also put that pitcher in the hands of Napoli, a catcher who has been a godsend after they acquired him in an offseason trade.

In enjoying a breakout season, Holland was much more effective with Napoli behind the plate this season than with Yorvit Torrealba, registering a 2.67 ERA in 12 starts and holding opposing hitters to a .223 batting average. Teaming up with Torrealba for 17 starts, those numbers shot up to 5.04 and .281. (Holland also had three starts with Taylor Teagarden as his catcher.)

Holland showed no jitters in handcuffing the Cardinals and Albert Pujols, who had tied World Series records with five hits, three homers and three RBI in Saturday's 16-7 win.

"We both have a very strong chemistry with each other," Holland said of Napoli. "He does a really good job of controlling my emotions, making sure I don't get ahead of myself."

Holland tied for the league lead in shutouts this season and threw three in July, but he had not pitched more than seven innings since Aug. 16 and had failed to reach the sixth in his three playoff starts.

Against the Cardinals, he was not only sharp and poised but also economical, mixing a pinpoint fastball with a curve and slider that resulted in several of his seven strikeouts.

"He did an outstanding job," said Pujols, who went 0-for-4. "That's a big lift for them. He saved the bullpen. You got to tip your hat to the guy."

After Holland threw 107 pitches, 71 for strikes, through the first eight innings, manager Ron Washington let him go out for the ninth.

The sellout crowd of 51,539, which broke into chants of "DER-EK HOL-LAND! DER-EK HOL-LAND!" during the eighth inning and before the ninth, roared with delight.

But he issued a one-out walk, Washington lifted him for closer Neftali Feliz despite Holland pleading to stay in.

"He told me he can get the ground-ball double play, and I told him I knew he can," Washington said. "'But I'm going to Nefti.'"

No matter, Holland's pitching and Napoli's 392-foot blast over the left-field fence would secure the World Series tie at two apiece.

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